Tim Tebow: Going Out on a Limb to Make His Case

"...And with the 68th pick of the 2010 draft, Kansas City selects Tim Tebow, quarterback, Florida."

"Why on Earth should the Chiefs make such a crazy pick like this?" is probably what most of you reading this are thinking right now. With a young, high-dollar quarterback already on the roster, why would Kansas City take a flier on a younger, possibly overhyped project with a questionable arm, unconventional throwing style, and no experience in a pro-style offense?

True, there are a number of questions about Tebow and his prospects in the NFL.  However, for as many parallels that are drawn between Tebow and former Florida standout (and NFL washout) Danny Wuerffel, just as many exist between Tebow and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.

Young, of course, signed in 1984 with the USFL initially before coming into the NFL.  After a poor showing as the starter in Tampa and four years as Joe Montana's backup, Young came on strong in 1991, and 1992 brought the first of seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

Wuerffel, meanwhile, spent six seasons with four different NFL clubs before calling it a career.

The question at hand, however, isn't whether or not Tebow is going to be the next Steve Young or Danny Wuerffel.  The question is, what does any of this have to do with Kansas City. 

As previous seasons have shown, there is truly no such thing as "enough" quarterbacks.  And despite Haley's mention of Brodie Croyle as one of his "core players," Croyle has been injury-prone and is at the end of his contract.  Having a strong player like Tebow would be a more reliable option.

Another thing a team cannot have enough of are playmakers—people who can spring the big play at a moment's notice.  Saints running back Reggie Bush is one of those type of players.  He might not be worth the second overall pick used to select him, but there is no denying the potential either Bush or Tebow has when the ball is in his hands.

Then there's always Tebow's biggest selling point: his character.  Tebow has been one of the toughest competitors in college football and is completely unafraid to put himself or his beliefs out there. 

You can look to his speech in 2008 after being upset by Mississippi for proof, or watch his commercial for Focus on the Family during the Super Bowl. Oh, and while his classmates were doing body shots in Cancun, Tebow was doing missionary work in the Philippines. 

He challenges himself to be better each day, and he challenges his teammates to do the same, both on and off the field.  Regardless of what you think of his political or religious leanings, Tebow has the qualities of a true leader, and no amount of passing drills or hours studying playbooks will ever teach that.

Finally, there's the "What If?" factor.  Looking back, what team doesn't wish they had seen what Bill Walsh noticed in Young?  Walsh, one of the greatest offensive minds of his time, took on Young as a project—and after four years in San Francisco, he exploded onto the scene.  With Montana, five years Young's senior, already holding down the starting position, there was no rush. 

No one is about to call Matt Cassel the next Joe Montana, but with Cassel, five years Tebow's senior, the Chiefs should be in no hurry for Tebow to start.  And for a club that is equipped to be patient in his development— a club committed to its offensive scheme for the next several years— Tebow could learn and grow into a starting role and be a change-of-pace player in the interim.

Another prime example of this would be the recent success with Aaron Rodgers.  Granted, Rodgers was a first-round pick, but many people wrote him off—unable to unseat the venerable Brett Favre.  2008 changed their tune, as Rodgers went on to throw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns in his fourth season.

The 2010 draft should be full of high-quality talent because of the uncertain state of the collective bargaining agreement and the threat of a work stoppage in 2011.  And while there are a number of positions Kansas City needs to address, a player like Tebow should be seen as a long-term investment in the future of the team.  Should he fall to the third or fourth round, the Chiefs could do a lot worse than picking a player of his potential and class.